Mr. Elmo L. Drake, 76, of Leiters Ford, passed away at 12:45 PM, Friday, November 10 , 2017 at Millers Merry Manor of Culver.

On January 29 , 1941, Elmo Lee was born in Morehead, KY.   He was a treasured son of William and Zola Roberts Drake.  As one of the middle children  growing up he shared his childhood with eight brothers and five sisters.

In Culver,  on April 27 , 1963, Elmo married the love of his life and best friend,  Jane Messer. They shared 54 years of life's adventures. From their union came two beautiful daughters.  The family tree continued to grow with the added blessings of two grandchildren.  For many years Elmo worked in union highway construction, with McMahan-O'Connor then Reith-Riley.

Each day began with a meeting of the minds and coffee at  Culver's Cafe' Max.  Elmo and buddy Fred Ditmire were regulars leading the pack with the discussion of local gossip and solving the world's problems.   Later in the morning they returned to the Leiter's Ford Tavern to meet up with Fred Day and more friends, solving more problems.  A  friend of all seasons, Elmo would drive the Ditmire grain trucks at the harvest or assisting  with rock picking the fields in the spring.   Elmo enjoyed helping Fred Day with custom applications on area fields.

Living in  the Leiters Ford community for more than a half century, Elmo was regarded by many as their Mayor.  He also earned the title as the "Candy Man,"  for the pocketsful of Werther's  candy he shared joyously with friends, sweetening their day.  A man of impeccable timing Elmo cruised around town and country blocks on his daily drives.  Many times his passage was at a friend's time of need with a combine being stuck in the field or jumping a dead battery.  He was a true friend with a servants heart.

As the patriarch of the Drake family, Papaw  Elmo was proud to oversee three generations.  Nothing brought him more joy than the visits of his grandchildren.  He listened intently to the stories they told and taught Luke how to golf.  A passion they enjoyed together.  A man of perseverance, nothing could stop Elmo.  He once survived a terrible car-train accident that left him with paralysis of the left arm.  With a positive outlook he taught himself to golf again, perfecting his style using one hand and was pretty darn good at it.  He also enjoyed fishing the Tippecanoe river at the scenic Aubbeenaubbee Landing or at the ponds of his farming friends.  Sometimes catching the limit he shared with friends or cleaned them hosting a big fish fry for family.

Left to cherish Elmo's  memory with wife Jane are daughter Sandy Dunfee and husband Glenn of Leiters Ford; two grandchildren: Shannon Dunfee and fiancé Josh Cichowicz of South Bend  and  Luke Dunfee and fianceé Kayla Davis of Indianapolis; three sisters: Dorothy Archer of Morehead, KY, Christine Hamm of Morehead, KY, and Shirley Coige and husband Pierre of Wallingford; a brother, Robert Drake and wife Penny of Wallingford, KY; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding Elmo in death are his parents and an infant daughter, Debra Kathleen Drake on April 27 , 1964; two sisters:  Dolly and Lorene; and six Drake brothers: John, Roy, Arthur, Chester, Willard and Carl.

A celebration of the life of Elmo Lee Drake will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday, November 16 , 2017 in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18 ^th St., Rochester, with Pastor Bob Metzger officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 3-7 PM on Thursday, November 16 , 2017. In the most recent years, Elmo became an avid and competitve BINGO player at Miller's therefore, memorials may be made to the BINGO Fund at Millers Merry Manor, 730 School St., Culver, IN 46511 .